Laser resection for early oral cavity cancer. Results and complications

Laser excision of early selected cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx is a well accepted and reported treatment. Postoperative radiation therapy is employed in patients with unfavorable pathologic findings and in patients expected to have a high recurrence and metastatic rate. In most patients the combination of laser excision and postoperative radiation therapy is well tolerated and results in satisfactory healing, excellent tumor control, and high-level posttreatment function. This report discusses the treatment and results in 28 patients treated for early cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx. The local control rate of 77% compares favorably with the reported results following either conventional or laser excision of these lesions. The overall complication rate was 39%, with a 25% rate for patients not receiving postoperative radiation therapy, and a 58% complication rate for patients treated with postoperative radiation.